Tom Humphrey
Site Admin
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Posts: 1298
Location: Wallingford, UK
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 Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:07 pm Post subject: Closure of University of Birmingham Courses at the Gateway |
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I'm re-posting an email from Mark Duffel about the proposed closure of the biological recording courses at the University of Birmingham.
Please make clear your opposition to this really damaging and ill-considered decision by 'liking' the Biological Recording at BHAM facebook page and by writing to the three contacts in Mark's email.
| Mark Duffell wrote: |
To Past and Present Students (MSc, Ucert and Dayschools). This is a letter from Mark Duffell and John Handley both ex alumni.
The University of Birmingham School of Biosciences has recently announced that it will cease hosting the “Biological Recording and Species Identification” programmes (Ucert; MSc and day schools). This has come as a complete shock to staff and students, past and present as well as partner organisations.
All current students should be able to complete their studies. But from the end of April all the University of Birmingham staff based at the Gateway in Shrewsbury will be in all probability be made redundant (Dr Sarah Whild, Ms Linda Marsh and, Ms Emma Hopkisson). This will also mean the loss of the excellent and essential pastoral, librarian and administrative support to students and associated tutors.
The courses offered by Dr Whild and her merry band of associate tutors are something unique for professionals and amateurs alike, providing excellent training whether as day schools or longer courses. They provide a first-rate foundation in identification skills using national experts and are widely respected throughout the ecological and biological recording community. Day schools have always been exceptionally well attended, not just by ‘Salopians’. I have personally sat next to students from Dorset, Essex, Kent and Cumbria. The Certificate and MSc are similarly diverse with past alumni having travelled from the Shetland Isles, Ireland and mainland Europe. This is in part due to the significant reputation amongst ecological consultants and surveyors as well as Wildlife Trusts and other conservation/recording bodies that these courses have acquired. I know of nowhere else that provides a similar range of identification and ecological courses, whilst also using national experts.
One of the reasons given by the School of Biosciences for the closure is that there is no research history or research planning associated with these programmes. Unfortunately much of the published material on Biological Recording is within the grey literature so does not appear in the major journals that help with rankings.
A Facebook page has been set up http://www.facebook.com/pages/Biological-Recording-at-BHAM-needs-you/156737367761523 for you to view comments and add your own. Please consider ‘liking’ the page as this will show the University what support we have.
From what I understand none of the staff have been allowed to campaign or pro-actively discuss dealings with the University whilst their redundancies are being negotiated. So as a past student I am hoping you will support me in campaigning to get the courses back up and running, if not with the University of Birmingham, then within a supportive University elsewhere.
Perhaps the best outcome would be for all of the courses to be transferred to a more accommodating University, whole will maintain and support the programmed.
What you can do.
- Write a letter of support to any of the contacts below (or you might like to write to all three!).
- Let other people know what is going on.
- Post on the Facebook page about how participating in these courses has altered your employment prospects. Have you got a job directly from completing a day school, Ucert or MSc. Have you been sent by work for your Continual Professional Development?
- You can help us by posting links or details of any scientific papers that you have published directly from skills learnt on these courses.
If when you have done any of these you could let me know then we can keep track of events.
Any support would be of immense benefit
Letters or emails can be sent to:
Professor J.K. Chipman,
Head of School,
School of Biosciences
The University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
or email [email protected]
Alternatively contact the Head of College:
Professor M. Press,
Head of College of Life and Environmental Sciences,
School of Biosciences
The University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
or email [email protected]
Alternatively contact the Vice-Chancellor:
Professor D. Eastwood,
The University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
or email [email protected]
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